Rev. Mary Alice Peterhaensel

Rev. Mary Alice Peterhaensel died peacefully on Thursday, February 20, 2025. 

Born on March 15, 1943 in Huntingdon, PA, she was preceded in death by her mother, Maybelle Ellen (Morris, Bagshaw) Brewster and father, John Wesley Bagshaw; sister, Elizabeth Ella Bagshaw; and finance, Myron Shirk. 

A beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, wife, sister, daughter, Pastor, and friend who touched lives of so many. Mary was a beloved mother, wife, sister, daughter, Pastor, and friend who touched the lives of so many people. Mary was a wealth of knowledge with a degree in English from Juniata College, attended the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago, and received a Theology degree from the Lutheran Seminary in Gettysburg, PA. 

Mary is survived by her three children, daughter, Erin Phillips (Rick), son, Karl Peterhaensel (Amy), and son, Benjamin Peterhaensel; as well as her grandchildren, Karl (Jr.), Janalene, Kaleb, Vaughn (Faith), Makayla, Leah, Ryan, Alexa, and Karis; her great-granddaughter, Lillian; as well as many more friends and loved ones.

Mary attended William Smith Elementary School, Huntingdon Area High School and then after Juniata College, attended the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago where she prepared to become a missionary in Tanzania. Mary met her husband, W. Martin Peterhaensel at the seminary and the two kept in touch and eventually married in Tanzania, returning to the United States soon afterwards. Mary taught Latin at Luther Memorial Learning Center in Erie, PA. She worked tirelessly at the International Institute of Erie helping refugees make a home here in the United States, creating lifelong friends in the process. After the family moved to Liberia, she was a member of the AWOL (American Women of Liberia) and taught at the American Cooperative School in Monrovia. Returning to the States, after a civil war broke out in Liberia, she attended Gettysburg Seminary where she earned her theology degree. One of her professor’s and also mentor, Dr. Gerhard Krodel, gave her one of only 2 A+’s that he had ever given. This meant so much to her and he even signed it. Dr. Krodel and Dr. Evelyn Guss, both, along with her parents, helped shape her view of faith. She then pastored at a Lutheran church in Falconer, NY, and, later, several churches in the Middleburg/Selinsgrove, PA area.

She loved animals and, over the years, raised cats, dogs, iguanas, snakes, and chickens. She had three turkeys and four ducks who decided to join her as well. Reading, puzzles, learning languages, her Rotary Club, collecting stamps, learning in general, getting together with local pastors, spending time outdoors, and visiting wineries and friends are just some of her favorite pastimes. We always said, if we ever got stuck in the wilderness, we would want to get stuck with Mary, because there was rarely a tree or plant that she didn’t recognize. Her love for the Lord and His beautiful creation was evident in all that she did and she will be so greatly missed.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 15, 2025 at Sharon Lutheran Church, 120 S. Market Street, Selinsgrove, PA 17870. Refreshments will following services on Saturday at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Arbor Day Foundation. https://www.arborday.org/.

I lift up my to the hills, where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.

He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand.

The sun shall not strike you by day nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life.

The Lord will keep your going our and your coming in from this time on and forevermore.

Psalm 121 NRSV